Grower News

Stokes’ aster can be difficult to find but is a low-maintenance addition to any yard. [Terry Brite DelValle/UF/IFAS] Hide caption By Becky Wern / For the Times-Union I bought a phalaenopsis orchid and my friend was horrified when she saw me water it with two ice cubes. Did I do the wrong thing? Phalaenopsis orchids and most of the orchids we treasure are from tropical areas. Tropical areas obviously never have ice water coming down on their orchids. Orchids there are watered just like orchids are being watered now outside: they are bathed in warm rain water. Somewhere along the line someone decided it would be easier for people unfamiliar with orchids to be able to take solid water (ice) and just put that on so they wouldn’t be afraid of over or under watering. I understand. Orchids can seem mysterious with their roots coming out of the pots in search of water. And the online information can seem so complex that you come away more confused than you started. But ice cubes are not the answer. Some of you will reply that your orchids are fine, however, tolerance is not fine. Ice is stressful on tropical plants. Instead of an ice cube, the best way to water an orchid is to run it under warm water. Or to pour warm water with orchid fertilizer onto the plant. The roots will turn green and plump after they absorb the water. The water running through also flushes out excess salts from the fertilizers, which is good for the plant. It might seem like a chore, but your orchids would love a weekly trip to the sink. Make sure your plant is never left standing in water longer than 10 minutes. It’s OK for orchids to be potbound, in fact they like it. Most orchid lovers add quarter-strength fertilizer to their watering every time or every other time, and many of my friends who are orchid fanciers leave their orchids outside under trees at this time of the year. The plants love the humidity and the warmth. Can we grow fall-blooming […]

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